The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-05-12
PAPA'S JACKET.
A Touching Story of the War and
After.
BY L. A. DUBEy, BROOKLYN, N. z.


Clare. wonder how they are, and il she is
thinking of me-" Thus unused Bill D., OF
Go. +, 9th n. Y. Duryea's ZOuaves), the even
ing preceding the second battle of Bull Run.
y" If am wounded, taken prisoner or killed."
and his check blanched at the thought the
$50 have got together will 20 into the hands
of others. Let me see; l have it. will sew
IL in the lining of my jacket" and suiting the
action to the word, he began ripping open the
inside of the garment.
He then wrote upon scrap of paper the fol-
lowing:
Whoever finds this viii receive the blessings of
n loving husband and father by delivering Il to
Mrs. Dolly D. = ST., N. Y.
Co +, 9Th n. Y. Duryea's :. Zouave.)
He then wrapped it around the three SOS,
cut of a piece of his leggings, sewed them in
IL, and then sewed the whole on the inside of
the jacket.
"There he said, when he had finished, eff
am spared know where they are; if am
shot, in time some one may find them-and
/ Dolly may get them, God bless her."
Hello, Bill what are you looking so glum
about? One would think you had lost your best
friend" 1t was his old friend Jack H who
spoke.
ITO tell the truth Jack, 1 have got the blues
/ tonight"
."oh. don't givo way to anything of that
kind, Billy.
~ know. Jack, but can't help it; have
been thinking of Dolly and the baby"
well. / don't blame you, Bill, for she Is
| worth thinking of. Billy, we both courted
Dolly, but you won her, and let me tell you
that if anything should happen you, my old
friend, Dolly shall not suffer whilst / have
dollar"
Thank you, my boy. You have lifted
great load from my heart. Jack, have n great
favor TO ask of you; know you won't refuse
IL. We have marched side by side, slept under
the same blanket, been together through all
tho battles of the Peninsula, and have always
found you true blue. We go into action to-
morrow. Nothing is more likely than that
one of us might fall. If it is my lot, / want
you to stay by me until the last; but if you
have to leave me, promise that you will take
my jacket, and when you have an opportunity
send or give it to Dolly, and tell her that there
is letter sewed in the lining for her. Now,
my old friend and comrade, have you any
message that may fulfll2"
Jacks eyes filled with tears as he answere d,
Yes, Billy; write TO my old mother in Ohio
that have never forgotten my promise to re-
member her at night when taps are sounded; |
also, tell your wife in years to come to re-
member me sometimes when she meets the |
rest OF the boys after peace is declared"
Soon the two comrades wrapped themselves |
in their blankets and wcre lost in slumber
Reveille sounded, and the men were soon in |
line answering roll-call. Then the line Of |
march was again taken up.
AT length we were drawn up in line Of battle |
Our brigade consisted of the 5th and 10th regi- |
ments of Zouaves, attached TO Sykes's Division |
OF Regulars. Warren was in command. and as |
be rode his fiery charger down the line the |
men seemed to inhale new life. We were de- |
ployed as skirmishers.
Jack" said Bill, "the ball is open we will |
keep together as We always have The skir- |
mishers are being driven in; the shots are |
coming closer" Zip! Zip! Jack, have |
foreboding that cannot rid myself Of"
Cheer up, Bill; this is no time to think of |
anything but your rife"
Tho order was given to fire. Then as the /
enemy advanced through the woods, we could |
see the advantage they had over us. We were
on the turnpike, with u clear field behind u.s.
Jack, remember my Jacket" cried Bill rs |
he fell forward, with The blood streaming from |
q bullet-h hole in his neck.
lt required but a moment to turn Bill over
and look in his face. At once his friend per-
ceiyed that there was no hope. So, with a
prayer for his dead comrade on his lips. he
quickly drew the jacket from the stiffening
body. Bill had answered the long roll for the
last timo.
warren's yoco was now heard ordering a
retreat. 1t was useless for Jack to wait longer,
and, with last fond look at his old comrade,
he left him on the field.
While retreating Jack changed his Jacket for
Bills, throwing his own away, saying: This
Is the best way to keep my word with Bill!"
1t is not my purpose 10 review the battles
the gallant 9th participated in that is matter
of history. Jack was badly wounded in tho
engagement and lay in the hospital several
months before he was discharged. He sent the
jacket TO his brother in New York, who, instead
of carrying out his instructions, preserved it as
a keepsake.
Jack wrote to Dolly while in the hospital
fell sal Hale A., |
he had visited his mother he would come 10
New York and SEQ her. He asked her to call
on him for any service that he could grant. as
he had promised Bill 10 see that she wanted for
nothing. This letter went astray, and Jack
waited in vain for reply. lie thought she had
forgotten him or was too proud to ask his assist
ance.
Six years passed away. An old uncle had
died and bequeathed his fortune to Jack and
his brother James, who went West to hear the
reading Of the will. When the brothers met
the first question Jack asked was, Have YOU
ever heard from Bill D-'s wife,?
Yes! month ago she was seen by one of
the old 5th, who said she had a hard time sup
porting herself and child by the needIe.D
Say, Jim! what did she say when you gave
her Bills Zouaye jaekot?"
"Bll's jacket he exclaimed. Why. have il
yet. i remember your instructions, but
thought it would be Of no use 10 her. and as I
wished it rs a memontO. kept it,"
Jim, you did wrong. As soon as you rot
back you must give it to her. There is a letter
sewed in the lining"
"Why did you not tell me beforeP am
very sorry, and will be ashamed to meet her:
but will send it TO her soon rs / return"
Directly upon his return Jim hunted M
Harry Jones, and told him how he had neg
lected 10 do his brothers bidding. He asked
Harry to let him know how he could repair his
fault Harry promised, and, with the iacket
under his arm, set out on his err;lnd
Dolly was sitting by the table, upon which
the remnants Of "A scanty' meal remained with
her head resting upon one hand, the other
caressing the curly locks Of bright little fell
low seven or eight years of age. lie looked
up into her careworn face as Ire said: Mamma
ifyOu had not been so sick this week You would
have made my little jacket for Christmas.
wouldn't your"
''Yes, my dear" she replied sickness has
set me back, but perhaps Santa Claus will re-
member mamma and Ciarie."
=" DO you think SO? l hope he will. There
is a knock on the door"
Come in!" said Dolly, thinking il was the
lady in the next room, who had been very kind
10 her since she had occupied the two little
rooms adjoining.
She started with surprise as she recognized
one of her husbands old comrades.
why, Harry, am 50 glad TO see You! Sit
down Why, where did you come from. and
how are your i have not seen YOU for so long,